It is often said that you really look for it South Island of New Zealand must, but as far as I'm concerned you shouldn't skip the North Island either. The North Island has all kinds of beautiful highlights. It is good to know that not all the highlights of the North Island are included in this article, but in my opinion the 12 most beautiful places are!
Tip:: Do you first want to know what you should take into account when you travel to New Zealand going to plan? Then read: Travel information New Zealand | Everything you need to know in advance.
Are you thinking of following our footsteps and renting a camper(van) with friends, your partner or with your whole family? Then ask free of charge and without obligation submit a quote to Travelhome from ANWB. They have both campervans and full-fledged family campers on offer.
- Large selection, low prices
- Independent or Customized
- Expert advice from specialists
- Full quote with no hidden costs
1. Mt Taranaki
Literally and figuratively our highlight, Mount Taranaki. Also known as Mount Egmont, but Taranaki has been the official name since January 2020. It is called the national park where this dormant volcano is located Egmont National Park and that is a beautiful circular area. Even on the digital maps you can see this if you zoom out a little (location here). There are several walks to complete. This way you can walk a lap around it, but also to the top. We have done the latter and can recommend it.
Read more about the Mount Taranaki Summit Climb en Mangorey Track? And read what other options are available? Then read the blog below.
Also read: Hiking on the Mount Taranaki volcano
2. Te Mata Peak
At Mata Peak (Location here) is often skipped, but we thought it was a wonderful location to visit. You can climb Te Mata Peak yourself or visit the viewpoint with a car. You can also visit numerous vineyards in the area and of course do wine tastings. We were even able to spend a fantastic night here on the coast with our camper.
3.Cathedral Cove
This place on the coast of the North Island on the peninsula Coromandel Peninsula (Location here) is a huge attraction. We were disappointed by how extremely touristy everything was here. You had to park in a very large parking lot and then continue your way with a special van to the entrance of the walk Cathedral Cove. During the walk to the beach we actually encountered very few other people. Especially when you compare it to how many other people were at the final location. A tip is to go here early in the day.
4. New Chums Lookout
This is not a very special place and therefore not very touristy, but it is very nice to visit. There is a viewpoint over a very beautiful bay and you can of course also visit the bay itself. A dip in the water is wonderful here on a nice day, but in that warm weather the climb up is quite a sweat. Still definitely worth it though!
You have to pay attention to what time you walk there and back New Chums Lookout (Location here). You have to walk through a stream and when the tide is high, the water may reach your waist!
5. Cape Reinga
Cape Reinga (Location here) is the northwestern terminus of the North Island. It is a special place because this is where the Tasman Sea merges into the Pacific Ocean. Depending on the weather and the season, you will see different colors in the water here. I myself could not discover any different colors, but I did clearly see the different streamlines of the water and where the water collided with each other.
Apart from this water phenomenon, this place is a spiritual place for the Maoris. They see the roots of an old tree at the point of this cape as the starting point of the spirits. The journey of the spirits begins in this place and that is why the place is also called Reinga, or 'underworld' in Maori.
The lighthouse at the end of the cape is a great place to visit and from my own experience I can advise you to do this early in the morning. We saw the sun rise at this spot and it was magical. There are various walking routes towards the cape. Please note that the paths can also be closed because they pass through meadows with protected tree species.
6. Giant Sand Dunes
A nice stopover if you drive to Cape Reinga. You can park your car next to the dunes and make the climb up. We were there too early, but between about 10 am and the end of the afternoon you can also ride the sand dunes with a board (location here) slip off.
We still thought it was a really cool place to see. There was a lot of wind, but the view was magical. The climb to the top was definitely worth it, because at the top the sand dunes really seemed to be endless. If you go boarding, make sure you bring a dose of energy, because you will of course have to climb back up every time.
7.Lake Taupo
This lake, Lake Taupo, is New Zealand's largest lake (location here). Like many lakes, it was formed by a volcanic explosion, one of the largest explosions ever recorded. The village of the same name is located on the lake taupo. There is a tremendous amount of trout fishing in this lake. You have views of several mountains all around and the road on the east of the lake is a very beautiful route along the lake.
8. Huka Falls
Just above Lake Taupo are the Huka Falls (Location here). This is one of the North Island's most visited natural sites. It is a stream of a lot of water in a narrow opening. There are two locations where you have a view of the water; from a bridge and from a viewpoint on the side. You can also go on the water with a boat, but personally we did not think this was necessary to be able to see the phenomenon properly.
Actually, there is also a third location. This is not an official viewpoint of the Huka Falls, but perhaps the coolest. You can reach a lock (location here) watch that opens about 3 to 5 times a day. This means that much harder water comes through a narrow opening than at the Huka Falls viewpoint. In fact, it is so much that the water becomes higher and higher, because more water comes through than actually fits. A highlight for us to experience.
9. Hobbiton
Hobbiton (Location here) is one of the filming locations for the films Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. You can visit this film location in New Zealand. Even if you are not a huge fan of the films, it is still a very cool place to visit. It really is like in the movies! You will see both the small and larger hobbit houses and the fantastic guides will give you a very nice view behind the scenes.
10. Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Perhaps the most famous hike on the North Island. There are several hikes in it Tongariro National Park, both multi-day hikes and day hikes.
De Tongariro Alpine Crossing (Location here) is a day hike and the route is from one side of the National Park to the other. You walk over volcanic terrain and pass three crater lakes. With a shuttle taxi you can park your car at the end of your route, but still start your hike on the other side.
11. Rotorua
Rotorua (Location here) is a city in the center of the North Island and is surrounded by geysers, hot springs and mud baths. You smell that you are close to or in this city, because it doesn't smell nice at all. In the area surrounding this city you can visit various geothermal parks, lakes, water springs, the Red Wood forest and take Maori tours.
12.Wellingtons
You might miss Auckland in the list, but personally we didn't think it was a great city... Wellington (Location here), on the other hand, we thought it was a nice, pleasant city. There are also some cool things to do, such as visiting it for free Te Papa museum (click here) or a guided tour Wētā Workshop (click here). The latter is a company that makes special effects for many films around the world, including Lord of the Rings.
Tip:: Do you first want to know what you should take into account when you travel to New Zealand going to plan? Then read: Travel information New Zealand | Everything you need to know in advance.
Are you thinking of following our footsteps and renting a camper(van) with friends, your partner or with your whole family? Then ask free of charge and without obligation submit a quote to Travelhome from ANWB. They have both campervans and full-fledged family campers on offer.
- Large selection, low prices
- Independent or Customized
- Expert advice from specialists
- Full quote with no hidden costs
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